Suddenly Last Summer (O'Neil Brothers 3)

“I know what you’re going to say. You’re going to say you’ve never spent a whole night with a man, you don’t do that. But we already spent a whole night together, Élise. Last summer was the whole night. I’m just suggesting we do the same thing but without the butt-biting insects and the showers of rain.”

She laughed, as he’d intended her to. “I loved the rain. The whole thing was magical. Special.” But she knew it hadn’t been the rain or the scent of summer clinging to the forest leaves that had made it special, it had been the chemistry. The connection between them.

“I loved the rain, too.” The glint in his eyes suggested his memory of that night was as fresh as hers. “Let’s go.”

He paid, and they walked from the restaurant to the car, shoulders brushing.

“Thank you. I enjoyed myself tonight.”

“So did I. Next time I’ll take you to Boston. We’ll go to the opera.”

Next time? She felt as if she were on a runaway train with no brakes. “I’ve never been to the opera. My mother took me to the ballet once. It was incredible.”

“You’ll love it. Tyler calls it caterwauling.”

They drove home through darkness, along winding roads hugged by forests, through valleys and villages, past pretty churches and covered bridges.

She was aware only of him. Of his hands on the wheel, of his strength, his control.

Of her own feelings.

She couldn’t stop thinking, looking, wanting to touch until she thought she’d go mad with it. She thought it was just her, but then he stopped at a set of lights, reached across and slid his fingers over hers and her heart stopped.

Neither of them said anything and then she curled her hand into his, so aroused she could feel the delicious curl of anticipation unravel inside her.

He stared straight ahead and then finally, for one brief moment, turned his head to look at her. He pressed her hand down onto her leg so the tips of his fingers brushed against her bare thigh.

The look in his eyes robbed her of breath and by the time he turned into the road leading to the resort she was ready to throw herself from the moving car and head for the protective covering of the forest.

He killed the engine and they came together like two wild creatures. His mouth collided with hers. She locked her hands in the front of his shirt. She felt the bite of his fingers in her hair, the erotic slide of his tongue against hers, the heat of his mouth and the sizzle of the blood in her veins. It was a heart-pounding, blood-pumping kiss and she slid her arms around his neck, trying to get closer.

With an effort he dragged his mouth from hers, but only long enough to mutter the words “not here.”

They disentangled from each other long enough to stumble out of the car, then he grabbed her hand and they ran along the narrow trail that led to the lake and Heron Lodge.

Too far, she thought, and caught his shoulder with her hand.

“Kiss me—”

With a soft curse he slowed, lowered his mouth to hers and then groaned as she slid her arms around his neck. “Not here—not—” He clamped his arm around her waist, still kissing her, and she was scorched by the heat of it, drowned by the tide of sensation that threatened to knock her off her feet.

Dizzy from the skill in his kiss, she tugged at his shirt, desperate to touch, to have her hands on his body. “I want you—”

“Jesus, Élise—” He trapped her up against a tree, his hands on her hips, holding her against the hard throb of his erection as she dragged her hands over his shoulders. His muscles were rock-solid under her fingers and she closed her eyes as she felt the roughness of his jaw scrape the soft skin of her neck.

“Now—please now—” she couldn’t wait any longer and she heard him stifle an oath and then sweep her into his arms. “Sean—”

“Don’t say a word.” His teeth were gritted, his jaw clenched as he carried her the short distance to her lodge. “Just don’t say a word. And definitely don’t kiss me. I’m trying to walk.”

“I want—”

“Yeah, me, too.” He took the steps in two strides. “But this time I want to see what we can do with a bed and a locked door.”

The air was still, the water quiet and serene, the forest sleeping in the warmth of the summer night. Barn swallows swooped with the ruffle and quiver of wings as Sean crossed the deck but tonight she wasn’t interested in her surroundings, only in the man.

She trailed her mouth across his jaw and heard the breath hiss through his teeth. “Have I told you you’re sexy?”

“Don’t tell me,” he said, as he shouldered the door open, “not yet. Hold that thought.”